Lots of Thanksgiving Weekend choices

(Jeb Bladine / News-Register) Thanksgiving needs no introduction. Turkey and gravy; potatoes and beans; cranberries and pumpkin pie; family with kids and animals. Maybe a little football, and an old, late-night movie.

It never gets old.

This year it’s also a shopping day, with major retailers opening Thanksgiving afternoon and night for those who can’t wait for the long lines of “Black Friday.”

Friday afternoon there are local reminders that it is the Christmas season – Santa’s Starlight Parade at 4, and the traditional Tree Lighting ceremony and caroling beginning at 6.

Those downtown businesses – not just in McMinnville but throughout the area – will be part of Small Business Saturday. It’s a national campaign that reminds people of the important role in community life played by their local, small businesses. They don’t just need, but have earned our support.

Sports fans have no shortage of major events. There’s the annual Civil War football game in Eugene starting Friday at 4, and despite the disappointments of last weekend for both the Beavers and Ducks, the bragging rights from that game are something that lasts for months to come.

Saturday at noon, the Linfield College Wildcats host a second round NCAA playoff game against Hampden-Sydney College of Virginia.

Local roads will be filled over the weekend with visitors touring area wineries for their traditional Thanksgiving Weekend tasting. If the “chance of rain” prediction turns out better than that, there’s opportunities to see some of the finest venues in the Oregon wine industry without venturing far from home.

At the end of all that – and even if you pass up on it all – there still are those Thanksgiving leftovers and, of course, one more showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”